This study aimed to evaluate levels of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) extract (YME), as a feed additive in the diets of growing lambs on serum biochemical parameters and hematological indices, animal performance, body metrics and carcass traits. Thirty-six entire (nine per treatment), male growing lambs, weighing 23.8 ± 3.7 kg, were fed the experimental diets which were treatments consisting of increasing levels of YME (0, 1, 2, and 4% inclusion on a dry matter [DM] basis) during an experimental period of 53 days. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, which initial body weight was used as blocking factor and the results were analyzed by orthogonal contrasts (linear, quadratic, and cubic). Yerba mate extract did not change the general health status of the animals; however, inclusions of up to 2% of the extract increased globulins (p = 0.05) and white blood cell count, as segmented neutrophils (p = 0.02) and lymphocytes (p = 0.04). Additionally, inclusion of up to 2% YME increased dry matter intake, final weight gain, total and daily gain (p < 0.05), also tended to increase ribeye area and reduce fat thickness (p < 0.10); however, YME above 2% of inclusion reduced animal productive parameters (p < 0.05). In conclusion, levels up to 2% of YME were beneficial to the health and productive parameters of growing lambs.

Four hundred piglets were housed in 20 pens and offered for 42 days a pre-starter and then a starter compound supplemented with trace elements given as sulphates (SULF) or proteinates (PROT) at a common level (100) or at a reduced level (20) of inclusion. The common level supplied 278, 148, 315 and 98 mg/kg and the reduced level supplied 128, 38, 135 and 50 mg/kg of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn), respectively, taking into account the natural food contents. Proteinates used in the trial were analysed and described in terms of content and quality of different potential ligands. Piglet growth was not affected by any treatment. At the end of the trial blood samples were collected from eight pigs for each treatment. These animals were slaughtered and their livers were removed, weighed and analysed. Compared with SULF, PROT increased significantly plasma levels of Fe (25·1 v. 15·7 μmol/l), haemoglobin (10·9 v. 10·4 g/dl) and the number of red blood cells (6·4 v. 6·1 millions per μl) but the liver recovery of Fe was not affected by any treatment. In piglets receiving PROT the liver content of Cu and Zn increased significantly compared with those receiving SULF. On reducing the dosage, Cu in the liver significantly decreased with SULF but not with PROT and the amount of Zn decreased more with SULF than with PROT. The results may reflect a better availability of Cu and Zn when proteinates rather than sulphates were used as mineral supplements.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) extract (YME) on muscle metabolomics and physicochemical properties of lamb meat. Thirty-six uncastrated male lambs (90 days old) were fed experimental diets which treatments consisted of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 4% inclusion of YME. Animals were fed for 50 days before slaughter. Muscle and meat samples were collected for metabolomics and meat quality analysis, respectively. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design and analyzed using orthogonal contrasts. There was a quadratic effect of YME inclusion in tenderness (P &lt; 0.05) and a positive linear effect on meat lightness (P &lt; 0.05). No qualitative changes (P &gt; 0.05) on individual metabolites were observed; however, changes in the quantitative metabolic profile were observed, showing that animals fed 1 and 2% of YME have a greater concentration of desirable endogenous muscle antioxidants, with direct impact on metabolic pathways related to beta-alanine metabolism and glutathione metabolism. Therefore, YME dietary supplementation up to 2% of the diet to lambs had little to no effects on the majority of meat quality traits evaluated; moreover, 4% YME inclusion negatively affected feed intake and meat quality traits.

The inclusion of plant extracts that contain secondary compounds with the potential to modulate rumen fermentation and improve animal performance has gained attention in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of yerba mate extract (Ilex paraguariensis ST. Hilaire) (YME) on the ruminal parameters. Eight castrated cattle were divided into four groups, a control without YME (0%) and three treatment groups with 0.5, 1 and 2% inclusion of YME in the dry matter. The inclusion of YME did not show differences in ruminal methane emissions (CH4), and total apparent digestibility (p = 0.54). Likewise, YME did not modify ruminal pH, but positively affected NH3-N, which decreased linearly as the extract level in the diet increased (p = 0.01). No short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were influenced by YME, except isovaleric acid (p = 0.01), which showed a lower concentration in the inclusion of 2% YME. Our results show that up to 2% YME does not affect digestibility, ruminal fermentation parameters, or the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the rumen.

In the conservation of meat, antioxidant substances are used to help to increase meat’s shelf-life, since it is a product susceptible to oxidation. Most of these substances are synthetic origin and their long-term use can affect human health, because of that, change those chemicals to natural additives is a goal. That substances can be used directly in the meat or added to animal feed and its compounds can keep meat shelf-life by keeping the physical-chemical characteristics of the meat and provide benefits to the health of consumers. So the objective of this project is to use yerba mate extract (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hilaire) as a natural antioxidant in the quality of lamb meat, verifying shelf life. Samples were collected the muscle Longissimus (L) from 36 lamb (Îlle de France x Dorper x Santa Inês), those animals was divided at 4 groups receiving one of the diets: T1, T2, T3 and T4 (0,1, 2 and 4% of extract). The meat samples were exposed in plastic film during 0, 3 and 6 days, analyzed the values of pH, color (brightness=L, red value=a, yellow=b) e TBARS (reactive thiobarbituric acid). All data were statistically evaluated using the MIXED procedure of the statistical package SAS. The results show that pH, color and TBARS values were influenced by the exposure time (P &lt; 0.0001); since as the exposure time increases, the meat more easily oxidizable. The dietary treatment at pH (P 0.2376), L*, a* and b* parameters (P0.1040), (P0.4207) and (P0.0029) respectively, in addition to the lipid oxidation value (P 0.4492) did not affect these parameters. The interaction Diet × Time had no effect on the pH value (P 0.1601), nor for the values of color L*, a*, and b* (P 0.8003), (P 0.7063) and (P 0.1369) as well as for the values of TBARS (P 0.4953).